At the beginning of the summer, Baribo had yet to score for the Boys in Blue, but he has now emerged as the top scorer in the tournament, standing out among 47 teams from Major League Soccer and Liga MX.
The Union secured a fourth-place finish, with significant changes in the team’s lineup preceding their Leagues Cup campaign. Notably, Andre Blake’s return from injury and the comeback of several starters after national team duties played a crucial role. The team’s recent success can be partly attributed to Baribo’s remarkable performance, as he has made a strong impact on the scoring front.
The 26-year-old Israeli player netted his first two goals for the Union on June 19 against FC Cincinnati and has since increased his tally to 13 goals in 13 matches. This impressive record includes four games with two goals, one hat-trick, and two matches with a single goal.
Baribo’s seven goals during the Leagues Cup have placed him at the top of the scoring chart, ahead of LAFC’s Denis Bouanga and Columbus Crew’s Diego Rossi, both of whom scored six goals in the tournament final.
“It means a lot to me because as a striker, you always aim to be at the top of the scoring charts. However, it’s important to remember that we lost, and ultimately, it’s about the team and winning,” Baribo reflected.
While he is satisfied with his recent contributions, Baribo reiterated that his efforts will not wane after Sunday’s Third-Place Match against Colorado Rapids. With the Philadelphia Union’s Major League Soccer play set to resume on Wednesday against Columbus Crew, Baribo is focused on maintaining his form and helping elevate the team’s position in the standings during the final stretch of the regular season.
“I must keep working hard and fight for my spot in the starting lineup. It’s a challenge with so much talent on the team—Sam [Adeniran], Mikael [Uhre], Quinn [Sullivan]. However, we must stay positive after our loss today and prepare for Columbus,” Baribo stated.
“This season has been challenging, but winning is our responsibility as soccer players. We have faced tough moments, but we must stay focused, work diligently, and aim to win every home game. Columbus is a strong team, but we are playing at home, and we need those points.”